Laundering textile fabric



Patented ct. 22, 1929 ROBERT A. PHAIR, OF ALLENDALE, NEW JERSEY, AND BARTHOLOMEW BUCARIIA,

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, .ASSIGNORS TO IE. KOHNSTAMM & 00., INC., 0}? NEW YORK,

N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK LAUNDERING TEXTILE FABRIC No Drawing.

Laundering textile fabrics of which the following is a specification.

The invention aims to improve laundering operations on textile fabrics, and particularly the bleaching step in such operations, by

mixing with the bleach certain porous ma terial which removes oily matters by absorption and thus aids the bleach in the removal of stains. The mixture may be made before adding it to the water,-and the porous material may be in such percentage as to make a I solid or pasty compound which is more convenient and economical to handle than the liquid bleaches ordinarily used by laundries.

Various silicates, silicate compounds or substituted silicates may be used as the absorbent, and various bleaches as the absorbed liquid.

We prefer the special form of silica, -variants of which go by the names of infusorial earth, kieselguhr, diatomaceous earth, filtercel, and so forth. The silica compound (in which term we include silicas of corresponding physical structure) absorbs the liquid bleach by reason of its porous structure.

The invention includes mixtures which are not entirely free from water and which may, for example, be pasty. The proportions will be varied depending on the characteristics of the particular infusorial earth in hand, its absorbent power, the de ree of dryness desired in the product, andthe percentage of available chlorine in. the bleach used. For

it helps to emulsify oils,'fats and grease in the fabrics during the laundering operations. This is true even though the character and quantity of the silicate are notsuch as to produce a dry mixture and the'invention .is its *broadestaspect includes a mixture with the bleach of a substantialpercentage of the sili- Application filed March 6, 1925. Serial No. 13,455.

ing. This aids very greatly in the removal of a large number of colored and grease stains and aids very greatly in the'eficiency of the bleach.

It is an important consideration in making a commercial product that an infusorial earth or other insoluble silicate be used from which all or practically all of the common organic matters have been eliminated. Otherwise such matters tend to decompose the bleach and to render the mixture unsuitable and valueless after it becomes old. For the same reason it is important to purif the earth by removing any impurities w ich may be present, such, for example, as iron. The most common impurities are organic matter and iron, and these particularly should be entirely or nearly eliminated.

. For the greatest stability the bleach also should be free from iron, nickel, copper and other catalytic agents. These catalytic agents often times contaminate the bleach from the containers and utensils used.

The bleach and silicate. may be used with out previous admixture. That is, they may be added separately to the water in the blach ing stage of the laundering operation. example, equal quantities may be used of 111- What we claim is:

1. In the laundering of textile fabrics the improvement which consists in adding to the water during the bleaching operation a mixture of a bleach and a silica compound of porous structure which removes oily matters in the fabrics by absorption and thus aids the bleach in removing stains and which is carried off in the laundering operation.

2. In the laundering of textile fabrics the .bleachin method which consists in the removal o oily matters in the fabrics by the addition to-the wash water of a silica compound of porous structure which absorbssuch oily matters and a bleach which removes stains from which the oily matters have been removed.

3. The method of claim 2, using a $111021 compound. which has first been freed of orgenie and other impurities which tend to (ieeompose or contaminate the bleach.

4. The method of claim 2 the additions consisting of the silica compound to the extent of about thirty to fifty per cent and 2 solution of hypochlorite.

In Witness whereof We have hereunto signed our A. PHAIR.

BARTHGLUMEW BUCAPJA. 

